Chargers Vasquez gets edge over Cason

Ranking the free agents, NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal and Joe Fortenbaugh of the National Foootball Post are in agreement on two counts: 1) Louis Vasquez is the Chargers’ top free agent, 2) Vasquez is only slightly better than Antoine Cason.

Rosenthal lists Vasquez one spot ahead of Cason; over at NFP, meantime, the right guard is nine spots ahead of the cornerback.

I also rate Vasquez over Cason. He’s nine months younger. He’s been a more consistent performer and starter.

I deemed Vasquez his team's best blocker in 2012. Chargers players voted center Nick Hardwick the line's MVP. I can see why. Hardwick is responsible for calling out blocking tasks and is said to excel at it.

Cason's position is generally tougher to fill than right guard, Vasquez's spot since 2009.

As my colleague Michael Gehlken chronicled, Cason improved as the 2012 season went along. Cason will turn 27 in July. His best seasons may be ahead of him.

But for the Chargers, replacing Vasquez could be the tougher chore. Cason’s backup, Shareece Wright, is further along than Vasquez’s young understudy, Johnnie Troutman. Drafted last year in the fifth round, Troutman missed the season as he recovered from a pectoral injury. Left guard was his spot for the last three years at Penn State.